Vapor cooling system for internal combustion engines



May 19, 1931.- L. P. BARLOW VAPOR COOLING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTIONENGINES Filed June 27, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 19', 1'931.

L. P. BARLOW VPROOLNG SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed June 27, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ....vv? f Patented May 19, 1931 FFEQE LSTER P. BARLOW, DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO MCCORD RADIATOR &

` IMFG. C0., OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORE'ORATION 0F IMIAINE VAPOR COOLING SYSTEM. FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Application led June 27,

v etc.

Heretofore in these systems as designed for automobiles, t-he condenser for the steam or vapor generated in the cylinder jacket of the engine has been in the form of the customary automobile radiator with its upper and `lower tanks and interposed core structure, either cellular or of the n and tube type as the case may be, and withthe radiator mounted in front of the engine in its upright or vertical position with a fanbehind the radiatorfor drawing air therethrough and with a pump driven by the engine for supplying cooling liquids to the cylinderjacket.

@ne object of my invention is to provide a condenser which will function in a horizontal position above the engine and drain by gravity to the liquid intake of the cylinder i jacket, and thus avoid the use of the water circulating pump and its connections to the drive shaft of the engine, as heretofore.`

Another object of myinvention is to have this condenser exposed to the external air in such way that it will function without the necessity of blowing air over or through it by a fan as heretofore, and thus avoid the use of a fan and its component parts, such asthe drive belt, etc. Y

A further object of my invention is to provide a condenser which may be mounted on the body of the vehicle, and thus enable the engine to be retained in a relatively dustprcof hood and thus eliminate forcing any warm air or exhaust gases or fumes back into the passenger section of the vehicle body to the discomfort of the occupants, as heretofore.`

A further object `of my invention is to equip the condenser with a drain and vent system which will permit the condenser to be tiltedwith the vehicle body at extreme angles from the horizontal without flooding or impairing or stopping its function.

A. still further object of my invention is to provide a condenser which may form the roof above the engine 7 1927.` Serial No. 201,684.

or top of the vehicle body, and thus serve a dual purpose.

The invention consists further in the matters hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 shows the vapor cooling system of my invention applied to an automobile of the closed body type with the condenser forming the roof of the vehicle body;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the condenser, part ofthe engine assembly also being shown;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view looking at the front of the condenser removed from the body and showing the front and rear sets of drain pipes; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 3 to show a detail of construction.

InFig. 1, I have shown in dotted and full lines a conventional type of automobile having an enclosed two-door or coach body 1 having a Hoor 2, two front doors 3, rear side windows 4, windshield 5, and cowl 6, as in bodies of this general design. The engine is mounted on the chassis in the usual manner forward of the cowl 6, and is covered by a hood 8 which extends back to the cowl 6, as shown.

The steam or vapor cooling system for the engine 7 includes a dome 9 on top of the cylinder block and opening directly into the liquid jacket 10 thereof about the cylinders 11, 1l, as shown. The level for the liquids in the jacket stands in the lower portion of the dome above the cylinders at approximately a.

The condenser for the system is indicated by 12, and this, as shown in Fig. 1, is located in a general horizontal plane. The condenser is made of relatively thin sheet metal, such as copper, brass, or the like, so as to readily radiate heat, and comprises upper and lower plates or walls 13, 14, which are suitably joined to provide a chamber between them which is cO-extensive with the horizontal area of the condenser. When forming the top or` roof` of the vehicle body l, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the condenser 12 is shaped accordinglyv and extends from front to rear and from side to side of the body, as

*.illustrated. ,'Atfthe opposite sides of the Vbody 1.

body, the condenser 12 is curved downward and Vis enlarged to prov-ide drain channels 15,

15, which extend from fro-nt to rear of vthe fro-nt to rear ofthe b ody 1 and not only increase theheatf'radiating surface of the con# denser but also strengthen it sothatit maybe strongenough toV form the complete roof ele i i ment of the vehicle body; The @ribs 16,fas`

shown in Fig. 3, are hollow that is, they open ,"dox'vnwarddire'ctly into the chamber of the I condenser, and .thus vapor mayflow r up into l' and along the inside vof the ribs so as to be tion; At the latter time, this flow of air will -be increased, due to the travel of the car. A

Y better affected by the'cooler external air which flows against the outer surfaces/of" the condenser and its ribs. The heat givenoii'. by the condenserV willl rise rapidly therefro-mand thus create, a flow of external air against the surfacey of the condenser, lnot only when the' vehicle 1s standing still but alsofwhen in moheat insulatinglining' 17 rcovers the under side Y of/the'condenser andthus prevents heatfroni .30V

' Y inconvenience the occupants of the car byVV radiating downward intoy the vehicle body to Y .Y having "the condenser form the' vroof' thereof;

Thecondenser 12 will be supported by a suitable .underlying .framework (not shown) thereto, jas invbody design. Arranged be- "tweenthie'top'and bottom plates13, 14 of the Y condenser tosupport'themV are anumber of :ribs 18, 178,- whicli'extend crosswise of the condenser from'fone side'chan'nel 15 to the o'ther,`iasY shown in FigsB and 4. The ribs' 18V'ar'e' preferably made of pressed metal and are channel shape ing'cross-section 'with base i flanges 19,19. r1`he ribs 18 are suitably spaced y apart andare disposed with their-upper por' Y V1 tions against the Vunder side ofthe upperw'all 1 y *V18 ofthe condenserand withtheirbase flanges against .thelowerwall y14 and .suitably secured thereto. l y terminating short of the side channels 15, the

Y Y sections of the condenser as divided bythe With the ends of the ribs '18 ribsare` in communication through said'clhanf nels' as well as through the hollowribs 16 of the top' wall 13.

A steam or vaporV conveying pipe or vcon- ""duit'j20 leads from the'dome 9'to the frontend ofjthecondenser 12 and there' joins a pipe sec'- tioni21'wliich extends along the center offthe Y' coinmodate it.'Y VTWith'the conduitfsectio'n 21` condenser toa Ypoint short of its rear 'endk l. where it opens into the condenser vto discharge steam into 'the same. Vrhe conduit section721 extending along 'the center of the condenser, Y

Vfront and rearends,respectivelyz vThe rear drain .includes two pipes 23, 23, which open into the channels 15, 15 at the opposite ends of the condenser. These pipes extend to a single pipe 24'which extends'down back'of the car land'then under the floor 2 thereof to .the liquid inlet 25 of theengine acket 10. '.-By so a rranging'the pipe24, it does not interfere with the opening and closing of the doors of the car no r with theV occupants entering and leavingvthe same. i y

Y The front drain also consists of .two pipes 26,26which ope-n into the side channels15, 15 at the front of the condenser. These pipes extendv to the'pipe 24 and open into the same on the opposite sides thereof. i The. pipes 26,

'26 extend down alongtheopposite sidesof the' body lb'efore-reaching the pipe 24."

Thefronte'nd27 ofthe condenser projects forward of the windshield 5V, like a visor, and has an upright vpartition'28 tol prevent condensate draining into the visor. `The upper end of the partition 28 terminates at the hollov/*ribs 16 Vwhich, cross it, and thus the visor 27-is in communication at all'times with the reist ofthe condenser over the top of the partition.v Apipe 29 leads from the visor 27 to l v Y l aitrap 30, which kis located well below the visor at the top of the body 1 and` suit-ably joined 2 7 by being situated under the `cowl 6.A A pipe 31 has one end connected with the top` of the trap 30 and its otherend open to the atmosphere so as Vto* vent the condenser 12 through the trap vSOto the atmosphere. The .trap 30 servesV as a condenserrv for'steam` vapors which enter the same from thecondenser 12 and returns the condensate collected to the j acketl() .through vaV pipe 32 VVwhich connects' the bottom of thetrapwith the pipev 24.' The vent pipel 29 connects with theV pipe 432 below the trap, so that any excess vapors carriedv over from the v'condenser Y12 will beV requiredtoV passv jup' through Ythe water in the trap and be condensed? This will preventV -fandr'guard against anyV appreciable loss of liquidsffromxthe system through/the vent,

especially when the engine is under-heavy duty. Acheckvalve inthe pipe 32 opens under a certain: head of liquid in the trapBO to allow the rvcondensate collected by the trap to return to the jacket 10 from time to time.

The operationof thesystem Vis as follows. When first startingfthe system, liquidslare ioured into the samethroughfthe filler neck B4, which is V'connectedwith the steam dome 9. The system is filled withrliquidsunt-il the top of theV neck is reached, this being .at the levela. wWhile vfilling the system, the liquids flow into the pipes 24 and 32 from the jacket inlet25; The pipe 32 fills until blockedby the check valve 33 in said pipe'. The liquid level rises in the upright sections of pipes 23 at the rear of the vehicle body 1 until it reaches an elevation equa-l to the level a in the domeQ.' After lling the system, the cap of the filler neck 34; is replaced.

' Vhen the engine 7 is started, the liquids in the jacket 10 soonreach the boiling point, as no pump or other mea-ns is employed to disturb or circulate liquids through the jacket. Vhen the liquids boil in the jacket, the steam collected in the dome 9 is conveyed therefrom to the condenser 12 through the conduits 20,21. As the steam enters the condenser, it forces air out of the same through pipes 29, trap 30, and into the atmosphere through the vent pipe 31. As the steam condenses in the condenser 12, the condensate iiows into the drain channels 15, 15 at the sides of the condenser and is returned to the jacket through the drain pipes at the end or ends of the condenser, depending on the an- `fle of the body. If the car is standing or traveling with one side lower than another, the channel 15 at the lower side will be likely ,to receive more condensate than the other 'channel 15 on the opposite higher side. If

both channels are at the same level, the drain will be through both, as the condenser is curved downward on opposite sides toward these channels and the drain will be to both sets of drain pipes. With the dra-ins at both ends of the condenser, the latter will drain even if the body is at an angle extending up or down as when traveling up and down hills.

With the condenser on the roof of the car body and located above the engine, the condenser will drain to the engine by gravity. This makes it unnecessary to use pumps or equivalent means and their component parts for forcing the condensate from the condenser to the engine jacket. Moreover, withthe condenser coextensive with the roof of the car body and exposed to the external air, the surface afforded the condenser is sufficient for efficient heatradiating purposes, and fans or blowers to blow air over the condenser are not required. Y Vith the condenser so located and the pump and fan eliminated.v the engine may be located in a hood which will prevent dust and fumes from the exhaust and inlet conduits being blown back into the car body to the discomfort of the occupants of t-he car Vas heretofore. Y

'I'o completely drain the system when desired, I equip the pipes 24 and 32 with drain cocks 35, 36.

The details of structure shown and cle-- scribed may be variously changed and modiiied without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention: A

1. In a motor vehicle, a vapor cooling system for the vehicle engine, including the cylinder jacket with a steam dome above the same, a condenser, conduitmeans connecting the condenser to the jacket and its dome, re-

spectively, for conveying steam from the dome to the condenser and for returning condensate from the condenser to the jacket, and a condensate collecting trap connected with the return conduit between its connections with the condenser and the jacket, said trap extending above and below the normal water level in the jacket and being constantly open to the atmosphere to vent the condenser thereto, said condenser being disposed in a substantially horizontal position at an elevation above the jacket so as to drain condensate thereto by gravity.

2. In a motor vehicle, a vapor cooling system for the vehicle engine, including the cylinder jacket with a steam dome above the same, a condenser forming one of the members of the vehicle body, conduit means connecting the condenser to the jacket and its dome, respectively, for conveying steam from the dome to the condenser and for returning condensate from the condenser to the acket, and a condensate collecting trap connected with the return conduit between its connections with the condenser and the jacket, said trap extending above and below the normal water level in the jaeket'and being constantly open to the atmosphere to vent the condenser thereto.

3. In a motor vehicle, a vapor cooling system for the vehicle engine, including the cylinder jacket with a steam dome above the same, a condenser supported on the top of the vehicle in a substantially horizontal position and conforming to the general shape of the roof of the vehicle, conduit means connecting the condenser to the jacket and its dome, respectively, for conveying steam from the dome to the condenser and for returningcondensate from the condenser to theV jacket, and a condensate collecting trap connected with the return conduit between its connections with the condenser and the jacket, said trap extending above and below the normal water level in the jacket and being constantly open to the atmosphere to vent the condenser thereto.

l. In a motor vehicle, a vapor cooling system for the vehicle engine, including the cylinder jacket with a steam dome above the same, a condenser forming the roof of the vehicle, conduit means connecting the condenser to the jacket and its dome, respectively, for conveying steam from the dome to the condenser and for returning condensate from the condenser to the jacket, and a condensate collecting trap connected with the return conduit between its connections with the condenser and the jacket, said trap extending above and below the normal water level in the jacket and being constantly open to the atmosphere to vent the condenser thereto.

5. In a motor vehicle, a vapor cooling sysice 'tern .fory the vehicle)engine,V including v.the cylinder jacket with a steam domey above thev saine, la condenser forming the roof of the vehicle and having draining channels at the apposite sidesv thereof, conduit means connecting the dome with .thecondenser for conveying Asteam thereto, conduit means connecting thedraining cliannelswitli the jacket for conveying condensate from the'condenser to thev jacket, and a condensate ,collecting trap connected with the return conduit-between its connections with the condensen and the jacket, vsaidtrap. extending' above andl below the normal water level. in the jacket andbeing conwith the condenser. for conveying ysteam thereto, two sets of draining conduits connecting the opposite ends ofthe. condenser with the jacket for conveying condensate from either or both ends' of the condense-rito the jacket,.and a condensate-collecting trap f connected to the drain conduits betweenthe condenser and the jacket, said-trap extending above and below the normalfwater level in the jacket and'being constantly open to the atmospliere for ventingtlie condenserthereto.

f v7. VIn 'a motor vehicle, a vapor cooling sys- 'cm for the vehicle engine, including the cylinder vjacket with a steam dome above the saine, a condenser forming the roof Vofthe vehicle and comprising upper and lower sheet metal Walls connected to form a steam receiving space betweenV them and coeXtensive with f teni for the vehicle engine, including the cyl- V inderjacket with a steam dome abovethe. saine, acondenser formingthewroof of the' vehicle and consisting of upper and lower the roof ofthe vehicle, a conduit for conveying ysteam from theV dome tothe condenser,

Vconduits for'drainingthe condenser to the jacket, and an atmospheric ventfor the condenser. Y; ..1 Y Y 8. Ina motor vehicle, a vapor cooling sysconnectedsheet metal plates with draining channels at the opposite sides of the Vehicle" and extendingthe .full length of the condenser,.supporting ribs .extending crosswise of theco-ndenser between its platesand terminating at said channels, a conduit connecting the 'steam'donie with thev condenser for supplying steam thereto,V conduits connecting f sai'd'channels -to the jacket for drainingthe condenser (thereto, and anl atmospheric ventVV for the condenser.

. 3f-In a motor vehicle, a vapor cooling sys` tem'for the vehicle engine, includingthe cylinderj'acketxwith a steam doin-e above the saine, a-.condenser forming theroof of the vehicle; and made of upper and lower sheet metal p1ates connected together, the upper plate being. provided with plurality of, up-

wardly projecting heat radiatingribs, a conduit connecting the donieV 'and the 'condenser for conveying steam thereto, conduitsA con- -necting the .condenser with lthe' jacketifcr draining'condensate.thereto, and an atmospheric vent fory the-condenser.

. l0.A In a motor vehicle, avapor coolingfsrstern for the vehicle engine, including the cylinder/ jacket Vwith vasteam dome above the saine, a condenser forming. kthe roof ofthe vehicle and consisting ofv connected vupperand Vlower sheet metal plates, formed to. provide draining channelsV at the Vopposite sides ofthe condenser, .supporting members extending crosswise ofthe condenser between its plates andV terminating short of` vsaid channels, the

npperplate being folded to provide apluralityv of upwardlyl'extending; hollow heat radiating ribs extending lengthwise yofV the vehicle, a conduit connectingthe steam dome with the condenser for supplying steam thereto and extending'into the condenser between Ythe upper and low-erV plates and supported by said members, conduitsv connecting said y channels withthe jacketxfor draining condensate thereto, and anatniospheric vent for the condenser, l1. In a motor vehicle,a vapor coolingsys.-

tem for the ,vehicleengine,. including the cylinder jacketfwitli a steam dome vabovethe same, a condenser forming thereof. of the vehicle and consisting of upper. and lowerV .connected sheet metal plates, a conduit connecting the dome ,with thef condenser for'supplying steam thereto, conduits connecting the opposite ends of the condenser with the jacket for draining condensate thereto, said drain- .ing conduits being so disposed asV not to interfere with the opening or closing oftheV doors of thevehicle body, and an atmospheric ventfor thecondenser.

12. vIn a motor vehicle, a-vapor cooling system for the vehicle engine, includingthe cylinder jacket with a steam dome-above the same, a condenser forming the Yroof ofthe vehicle' and consisting of connectedy .upper andlower sheet nietal plates spaced part to forma chamber, a conduit` connecting the dome with Ythe condenser for conveying Vsteam thereto, a vent chamber in the condenser and 'partitionedfroni the-rest of thesani'e, drain pipes connecting the condens-er fr ornlthe vent chamber to'the jacket'for;conveyingy coni densateV thereto, and a condensate collecting trap connected to the drain pipes and ext-ending above and below the normalfwater level to thefamosphele" OI Venting the vcondenser thereto.

'in the jacket, said trap vbeing.constantly open A13. In a4 Vapor'coolingsysteniffor internal combustion engines, the'fcoinbinationwith a cylinder jacket,.of a `steam dome above the saine, a surface condenser normally posi- .an internal combustion motor and a water jacket and a steam dome, a horizontal condenser connected at one end to the steam dome and a Valveless air vent at the other end of the condenser connected to a liquid trap for trapping condensate passing through the vent tube, and drains at both ends of the condenser for conducting condensate back to the jacket.

15. A vapor cooling system, consisting of an internal combustion motor, a water jacket and a steam dome, a horizontal condenser connected at one end to the steam dome, and a valveless air Vent at the other end of the condenser connected to a water trap and a nonreturnable Valve connected between the water trap and the jacket of the engine.

16. A Vapor cooling system, including an internal combustion engine, a water jacket and a steam dome and a condenser, said condenser positioned horizontally at the upper part of a closed type `automobile passenger body, andan inlet for steam at one end and a trap vent tube at the other end of the condenser leading to the atmosphere and drains from both ends of the condenser for conducting condensate thererom back to the jacket and a heat insulating material adja-A cent to the lower side of the condenser.

In testimony whereof I aiiX my signature.

`LESTER P. BARLOW. 

